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Cian out, but Richard back on form at Match Race Germany

Day 2 of the World Tour's Match Race Germany saw more beautiful weather, more spectators and of course more great racing. The spectator numbers are starting to swell as the weekend rolls around and once again Langenargen turned on the weather and entertainment for spectators and sailors alike. With remote controlled yachts, slot car races and numerous beer and food tents it could be easy to get distracted as to the real reason we are all here. But one look out on the water and the calibre of world class sailors will easily remind you…there is some top notch sailing happening on this stunning lake.

After the end of Round Robin B this morning, Bjorn Hansen, Sebastien Col and Jes Gram Hansen joined Ian Williams, Peter Wibroe and Markus Wieser in the quarter finals that will start tomorrow. The bottom 6 teams from the first two groups competed in the repecharge today to fight for the last two spots.

After being deducted a point yesterday for his collision with Team Black Match, Paolo Cian’s Team Shosholoza was on a serious mission to win some races. But it wasn’t until after they conceded another race to Black Match in the first flight of the repecharge that they got back on track to take a win from Damien Iehl’s Team Sinbad. However, it wasn’t enough to secure them a quarterfinal place as the defending champion and current World Tour leader went on to be defeated in the rest of his races. “It just wasn’t our week, last week it was. But not this week” commented Team Shosholoza trimmer, Pier Luigi.

Mathieu Richard proved that maybe it was just yesterday that wasn’t his day by winning 7 races back to back including all 5 races in the repecharge which secured his team 7thplace and a slot in the quarterfinals. “Tactics were very important today in the shifty conditions, our starts were good so we are hoping for more of the same tomorrow” Mathieu said.

The remaining quarterfinal place came down to a sudden death match between Adam Minoprio and Damien Iehl in the final flight of the repercharge. With perfect sailing conditions and a steady breeze, Iehl won the start and led the race from start to finish to cross the line ahead of Minoprio and Team Black Match with a comfortable lead. This win secured his team the last quarterfinal spot. Iehl says “it was all good practice today for the quarterfinals tomorrow, we had no particular plan of attack against Black Match, but we knew we had to win”

Tomorrows forecast is promising more exciting racing with a steady breeze predicted all day. The 8 quarterfinalists will compete in a round robin with 4 going home after 5 flights.

Repecharge Results

Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 5-0
Damien Iehl (FRA) Team Sinbad 3-2
Adam Minoprio (NZL) BlackMatch Racing/Emirates Team New Zealand 3-2
Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Alandia Sailing Team 2-3
Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza 2-3
Eric Monnin (SUI) Team Search.ch 0-5

Quarterfinalists

Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar
Peter Wibroe (DEN) Wibroe Sailing Team
Markus Wieser (GER) Team Sea Dubai
Sebastien Col (FRA) K Challenge/French Match Racing Team
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Alandia Sailing Team
Jes Gram Hansen (DEN) Trifork Racing
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team
Damien Iehl (FRA) Team Sinbad